Tinteán

The 2023 Irish Famine Orphan Girls Commemoration event in Melbourne celebrated a dual
anniversary this year – 175 years since the first Earl Grey Scheme ship arrived with Irish
orphan girls in 1848, and 25 years since the Famine Rock standing stone memorial to the
victims of the Great Hunger was erected in Williamstown.

Mr Daniel Lowe, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Ireland, Canberra spoke to the
experiences of the Irish diaspora then and now. He shared fascinating parallels and facts
that underscored the importance of this unique story in shared Irish-Australian history, and
outlined important community initiatives that Ireland is doing today.
Dr Val Noone OAM, former Chair of the commemoration committee, presented an insightful speech
entitled Forgetting and Remembering: The Williamstown Rock, the Earl Grey Scheme and the
Famine. In his insightful style, he addressed silences in memories of the Great Hunger. He recounted
following in the footsteps of his own ancestors in Ireland to learn of the impact and legacy of An
Gorta Mór. He shared the work of a committee dedicated to creating an Australian memorial to
the tragedy, the Famine Rock, which was erected in 1998 by public subscription. It pays tribute to all
victims of the Great Hunger, and remembers the hunger and hardship of people here and abroad.
Deputy Mayor of Hobson’s Bay, Cr Pamela Sutton-Legaud spoke to the long-standing
relationship we share with the Council, a major supporter of the orphan girls’ commemoration
and a key contributor to the event’s success. Also in attendance were the newly-elected
Mayor, Cr Matt Tyler, and Cr Daria Kellander.
Then Cr Peter Hemphill, local historian, provided a rare insight into the colourful history of
the important seaport of Williamstown, which also offered a glimpse into what the girls
might have seen as they first set foot on Australian soil.
Musicians Chris Fitzgerald and Cathy Custy brought an authentic feel of the era with a
selection of old tunes on the fiddle and accordion. While singer Janet Kelly returned to
perform two poignant pieces, and talented uilleann piper Leo Kelly again accompanied the
moving Laying of Flowers ceremony with his hauntingly beautiful music.
Our special presentation this year – Is Mise Ellen Boyle – focused on the story of Ellen Boyle,
a 16-year-old from Donegal who was on the Lady Kennaway, the first ship to arrive here in 1848.
One of her descendants, Jennifer Jones, did a superb job in sharing Ellen’s story; reading the
presentation, then participating in a one-on-one interview with another descendant,
Noeleen Lloyd, who is also a member of the commemoration committee. In bringing Ellen’s
story to life, the two further realised that they are actually related!
To share in the story of the Irish Famine Orphan Girls please visit us on Facebook.

Siobhan O’Neill

Siobhan is an organiser of the annual Famine Rock commemoration.